Tag: depression

Posted in depression, mental illness, suicide prevention

Depression-What is it, Really?

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Depression. Let’s examine the word. Dictionary.com defines the word Depression as:
“A mood disorder characterized by an inability to experience pleasure, difficulty in
concentrating, disturbance of sleep and appetite, and feelings of sadness, guilt, and
helplessness.”

Some people think that Depression is not real. That it’s simply “being sad” when it is so
much more than that. The depth of hopelessness is so overwhelming that it
overshadows everything in your life. There is a darkness that surrounds every aspect of
your life. It doesn’t matter what is happening in your life. You could be expecting your
first grandchild, or you just won the lottery. No matter what, this darkness is prominent.
It blocks out any joy.

Those that think you can turn depression off and on like a light switch have never
experienced real depression.  Being “sad”, or “low”, or “bummed out”, or “down in the
dumps” happens to everyone.  This is not depression.
There are many TYPES of depression and many, many different symptoms for them. 

 Clinical Depression
 Dysthymia
 Manic Depression
 Postpartum Depression
 Seasonal Depression
 Psychotic Depression
 Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
 Atypical Depression
 Situational Depression
 Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

These are all types of depression and there are more.
If you have been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms, most of the
day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks, you may be experiencing depression:

 Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
 Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
 Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness
 Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
 Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
 Decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling slowed down
 Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
 Difficulty sleeping, waking early in the morning, or oversleeping
 Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes

 Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not
have a clear physical cause and do not go away with treatment
 Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts

Not everyone who is depressed experiences every one of these symptoms. Some
people experience only a few symptoms, while others experience many symptoms.
Symptoms associated with depression interfere with day-to-day functioning and cause
significant distress for the person experiencing them.

I had one commenter describe her depression as feeling “empty inside”.  Some have
described it as being in a black pit, kept from the light.  Hopelessness and helplessness
are common feelings.

If you think that you might have depression, you might ask yourself “What kind of
depression do I have?”. A good place to start is with a family physician. Your
physician can help you figure out what you are dealing with. Sometimes the answer is
medication, sometimes it’s therapy. Your physician can point you in the right direction.
Above all, TALK to someone. Open up to someone that you trust.

If you or a loved one is in a crisis situation, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988.
What if you’re not in a crisis but really need to talk to someone? You can still call 988.
They will listen and they will help. If you can’t muster the nerve to call someone, you
can text. Text to 741741. You can do an online chat at 988lifeline.org. You can even
Tweet with a crisis counselor at @800273TALK on X (Twitter).

Please visit my Mental Health Help Page for more articles on Mental Health. 

Thank you for joining me on this journey.
Penny

*I am not a medical professional. My information comes from my own research and
personal experiences. If you have any questions or if there is a subject on Mental
Health that you would like to see me cover here, please reach out to me at
pennywilsonwrites@gmail.com. 
**My sources for the information in this article are from psycom.net or Psycom, a mental
health information website, dictionary.com and nimh.nih.gov, the National Institute of
Mental Health.

Copyright 2024 Penny Wilson, All Rights Reserved

Posted in depression, Life, Writing

The Power of the Pen/Writing To Heal

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

We all write for different reasons.  There are as many different reasons to write as there are writers.  I’ve been writing off & on my whole life.  But I didn’t give it any real merit or take it seriously until around 2011.  Now, writing is a huge part of my life.  One that I could not imagine being without.

My blog is a mixture of all kinds of things.  From my personal experiences to the daydreams of short stories or poetry.  It’s filled with my life.  My hopes, my dreams, and my tragedies, fears, and setbacks.

But more than anything, it’s filled with healing.

Through my writing, I’ve been able to put voice to the many experiences in my life.  This expression is an outlet.  A way to shout, scream, kick the dog (figuratively, of course. I would NEVER kick sweet Rocket), cry or sing, soar and rejoice.

It’s a way to heal.

But not just for me.  I hope that some of my writing has touched others.  I’ve written many times about depression and its devastation on people.  I’ve also written about family, loves and loss.

I have heard from several people that appreciate my writings and my attempt to inform and educate.  I appreciate this more than you could ever know.  

If my writing has touched you in some small way; if it has helped you heal in some small way, that makes me extremely happy.  If my writing made you smile on a day where it was tough to smile, then it’s all been worth it.  Because that’s what writers do.  They touch others’ lives through their writing.

As always, thank you for joining me on this journey.  ❤ Penny

Copyright (C) 2024 Penny Wilson, All Rights Reserved

Posted in depression, Poetry

Gravity

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes 

*This is an older piece, but I like it. I hope you do too. 

The energy it takes
to pull my feet from this earth
seems insurmountable. 

Each step
burdensome
cumbersome
massive. 

I lift my head
seeing the sunlight
breaking through the darkness ahead. 

Just a sliver. 

Hope. 

I advance
determined to reach
the cloudless space.

A deep breath. 

My conviction
wavering.

Fragments are found
somewhere deep inside.

Another step.

A small victory.

Another step.

I feel warmth
coming from the light.

One last step... 

Triumph. 
Copyright (C) 2019 Penny Wilson

**All is well, my friends.  This post started out as something very dark but turned around for me. (I never know the path my muse will take.)  I think it says that the light IS peeking through for me.  As always, thank you for joining me on this journey. ❤ Penny

Posted in depression, mental illness

I’m not fine

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

*This is a work of fiction, my friends.  I am well and doing fine.  I haven’t written about Depression in a while and wanted to do so.

The truth is, you see, I’m not fine.  What the world sees is a lie.  A lie to help them cope.  A lie to help me cope.

My lies serve me well.  Sometimes.  They hide the demons that fly under the radar to steal my mind.

I keep a careful watch.  But, they come whether I want them to or not.  I must be ever vigilant, to recognize them before they pounce.  Their disguises vary with each encounter.

There is a sense, a feeling, that they are coming.  Sometimes.  Other times, they attack without warning.

I lose the will of pretending at times.  I give in to them.  They are stronger than I am.  My resolve to smile and continue the lies wane.  I will retreat to my little cave under the covers.  If I sleep, I then find respite, a reprieve from the continual onslaught.  The darkness of sleep is preferable to the darkness I am subjected to by the demons.

Then, miraculously, they’re gone.  They’ve retreated back to where they came from; to the dark, dank recesses of my mind.  Perhaps they are gathering forces to come again.  Perhaps they are gone forever.  I don’t know.  I won’t know until they return, if they return.

For now, my days are brighter.  I can look forward to tomorrow.

Copyright (C) 2022 Penny Wilson

*If you or someone you know needs help, Please TALK to someone.  Please see more helpful resources on my Mental Health Help Page HERE.

Image by Constance Kowalik from Pixabay

Posted in depression, mental illness, suicide prevention

The Dirty Secret of Depression

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

I watch the news and they say we are in the midst of a Mental Health Crisis.  I’ve written several times about Depression.  You can read more of my pieces on Mental Health and Depression HERE.

It’s so frustrating to see that no matter what, the problem continues to be swept under the rug.  How long will this subject remain in the shadows?  How long will it have such a stigma attached to it that people dare not even use the word ‘Depression’?  How long will this remain a Dirty Secret?

Life has no value to depression.  EVERY DAY 121 Americans commit suicide.  50% of those people suffered from depression.

More than 38,000 people a year commit suicide.  80 to 90% of those that seek help for depression are helped using therapy and/or drugs.  This is great!  But FINDING the help is a problem.

How do you talk to someone about Depression?  THIS is a great article I found about how you can be supportive.   THIS is another article about what you should and shouldn’t say to someone with depression.  

Many people do not seek the help they need.  Why?  For a few reasons.  The Stigma attached to Depression and Mental Health stops them.  The COST for treatment stops them.  Even FINDING help stops them.

Depression stops you in your tracks.  You no longer care about anything that once brought you joy.  Just the simple act of getting out of bed in the morning seems insurmountable.  You struggle to find REASON or energy to complete the next task, to wash your hair, to take out the trash.  Life seems to have No Meaning.  “Why do anything?  There’s no point.”

Depression is sneaky and deceptive.  It creeps into your life in such subtle ways, you don’t even know it’s happening until one day, you look around yourself and your entire word has gone grey.  Your world no longer has life.  NOTHING matters anymore.  NOTHING brings you joy.  Depression has stolen that from you.

WEB MD says that some of the signs of depression are:

  • Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day
  • Impaired concentration, indecisiveness
  • Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day
  • Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day (called anhedonia, this symptom can be indicated by reports from significant others)
  • Restlessness or feeling slowed down
  • Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
  • Significant weight loss or gain (a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month)

If you know of someone that might be depressed, reach out to them.  Start a conversation.  Let them know that it’s alright to talk about it! Let’s bring depression out of the shadows and into the light.  This is the only way people are going to feel safe enough to talk about it and seek help.  Help End This Stigma!

* I found my information/statistics at various websites.  Here are a few that have wonderful articles on depression and how to seek help:

WEDMD

SAVE.ORG

Mental Health America

Healthline.Com

If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call 988 to get help right away.  You can also text to 741741.  

Copyright (C) 2024 Penny Wilson

*Writing on this subject is my small way to help end the stigma of mental health issues.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.  Penny ❤

Posted in depression, mental illness

More Help for Mental Health

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Because of my Mental Health Help Page, I will occasionally get an inquiry from someone asking me to add their information to my page.  The Recovery Village has made such an inquiry.   THIS PAGE breaks down different types of Mental Health Disorders that they can help with.

The Recovery Village is in 8 states and has many locations within those states.  While their main focus is on substance abuse, they have an extensive program for mental health disorders.  THIS is a page about the link between substance abuse and depression.  

Even if substance abuse is not an issue in your life, there is help available to you for Mental Health Disorders from The Recovery Village.  I encourage you to explore their website as there is a wealth of information there. 

If you have information that you would like to see added to my Mental Health Help Page, please contact me via my Contact Page.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.  Penny ❤ 

Posted in depression, mental illness

HotLines & Helplines-What You Need to Know

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Have you ever felt that you need to talk to someone but you don’t know where to turn?  Did you ever think of calling a Crisis Hotline?  Maybe you don’t think you are in crisis.  You don’t want to ‘bother’ someone if it’s not really an emergency.  Maybe you’re embarrassed.  Right?  

You don’t need to be experiencing a crisis to contact a crisis hotline. At most of these hotlines, the volunteers and counselors who answer calls, texts and chat messages are trained to help someone in crisis. But you can also reach out if you’re feeling sad, anxious or stressed and don’t know where to turn. 

These hotlines also serve friends, family members and loved ones of someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis, domestic violence, abuse, addiction and many other issues. 

Even if someone at the crisis hotline cannot help you with your specific needs, they can point you to the right resources that can. No one will ever make you feel bad for trying to get help, and no concern is too trivial or small. If it feels hard for you to manage, it’s worth reaching out.

There is a list of phone numbers, text numbers, websites and more ways to contact someone for help on my Mental Health Help page HERE. Below are a few of those. 

The Suicide Prevention Hotline in the US, available 24/7, is 988.  If you have any problem with this #, please dial the old # 1-800-273-8255. 

Is talking to someone too much for you?  It was for me in the past.  There is a Crisis Text Line.  Text 741741 and you can text with a counselor.

Want to do an online chat?  There’s a site for that too.  Find it HERE.

You can even TWEET with a crisis counselor at @800273TALK on Twitter.

As always, thank you for joining me on this journey. Penny ❤

Posted in mental illness

New Mental Health Resources

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Since I started my Mental Health Help page HERE, I have been contacted by various companies that have asked me to add their Mental Health resources to my page.   I’m thrilled that these people have reached out. Getting information for Mental Health help is not easy.  Resources are hard to find.  Below are some wonderful people that have asked me to add their information to my page.  Since these additions are new, I wanted to bring your attention to them.  Take a minute to look these over.  There may be something here that will be the right answer for you or someone you know.   

Illnesses and other tragedies can bring on Depression and other mental health problems.  The website Asbetos.com is sponsored by The Mesothelioma Center.  This wonderful website deals with not only Mesothelioma, but the Mental Health issues that often accompany a diagnosis.  You can find more information and resources HERE.  and HERE.

With locations in Florida, New Jersey and Indiana, the Boca Recovery Center focuses on addiction, pregnancy, eating disorders, and mental health issues.  You can reach them 24/7 at 1-800-516-4357 or email them at contact@bocarecoverycenter.com

In New York State, Niagara County, is the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.  716-278-4541 is the phone number for “The Wellness Connection Center.” Walk-in hours are 8-11 AM. They accept Medicare and Medicaid and also have sliding scale fees for others with private insurance if they find their co-pay to be too high.

*Do you have information about an organization that has help available to people with mental health concerns?  Or do you know of a hotline, crisis phone number, or website that I do not have listed on my Help Page? If so, please contact me and if it applies, I will add the information to my Mental Health Help page.  

The Suicide Prevention Hotline in the US, available 24/7, is 988.  If you have any problem with this #, please dial the old # 1-800-273-8255. 

Is talking to someone too much for you?  It was for me in the past.  There is a Crisis Text Line.  Text 741741 and you can text with a counselor.

Want to do an online chat?  There’s a site for that too.  Find it HERE.

You can even TWEET with a crisis counselor at @800273TALK on Twitter.

You can also find more information on my Mental Health Help page  HERE. 

As always, thank you for joining me on this journey. Penny ❤

Posted in depression, mental illness

No Shame

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  With this in mind, please read the piece below. 

I’ve heard people say things like “Oh, she’s just depressed”.  Just?

Most people, unless they’ve been there, have no idea what depression is really all about.  Most people use the word Sad.

It’s not really sad.  But yeah, sometimes it is.  It’a hollow, hopeless, emptiness, that consumes you.  Your world is black and bleak.  Nothing matters.

You could be expecting your first grandchild, or your son’s dream of attending Yale just came true, it doesn’t matter.  You put on a brave face, smile and act the part, but inside, you are barely functioning.

This is depression.

Continue reading “No Shame” →

Posted in mental illness

World Teen Mental Health Day

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Being a teen is hard enough.  If you add mental health struggles to that, makes life for some unbearable.  In this world of social media, peer pressures can be amplified.  Anxiety and Depression are the most common issues dealt with. 

Depression and Anxiety should not be taken lightly.  Teen suicides have increased dramatically since 2019.  

What can you do to help?  

*Be watchful of behavioral changes in your teen.  Are they isolating themselves more?  Have they lost interest in things that used to bring them joy?  Is your teen sleeping more or have a change in their eating habits?  

*Listen without judgement.  So often, people will keep the signs of Anxiety and Depression hidden for fear of being judged.  The feeling of shame is strong among those that suffer because of the stigma attached.  

*Talk to your teen.  Be willing to start the conversation.  We, as parents, don’t always know what to do, so we hope they will “grow out of it”, or that it’s “just a phase” they are going through.  Because your teen is keeping things to themselves, you will often need to make the first move to start the conversation about what they are struggling with.  

*Reach out.  Seek help in dealing with your teen’s struggles.  If you don’t know where to start, often your family doctor can help steer you in the right direction for resources in your area.  

*Educate yourself.  Being aware of the issues and their symptoms can be a huge help.  There are many helpful websites for this.  This is a good place to start: https://988lifeline.org/

The Suicide Prevention Hotline Phone # is 988. 

You don’t need to be experiencing a crisis to contact a crisis hotline. At most of these hotlines, the volunteers and counselors who answer calls, texts and chat messages are trained to help someone in crisis. But you can also reach out if you’re feeling sad, anxious or stressed and don’t know where to turn. 

These hotlines also serve friends, family members and loved ones of someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis, domestic violence, abuse, addiction and many other issues. 

Even if someone at a crisis hotline cannot help you with your specific needs, they can point you to the right resources that can. No one will ever make you feel bad for trying to get help, and no concern is too trivial or small. If it feels hard for you to manage, it’s worth reaching out.

For more information and other helpful resources and articles, please visit my Mental Health Help Page HERE.

Copyright (C) 2023 Penny Wilson